Jets send condolences to Gandolfini family

James Gandolfini is best-known for playing Tony Soprano on HBO's hit TV series The Sopranos, but to the New York Jets, he was a friend.

Gandolfini, who was born in Westwood, New Jersey, had become a regular at Jets games, including attending the Jets-Cowboys contest in September 2011. But the Emmy Award-winning actor's ties to the organization ran much deeper than just attending home games.

In 2007, then-Jets head coach Eric Mangini made a cameo appearance on an episode of The Sopranos. Gandolfini later went on to serve as the voice of Jets' 2011 video, which NFL Films used excerpts of in their NFL Yearbook series.

The Jets sent their condolences to Gandolfini's family via the team's official Twitter account:

We're deeply saddened to hear about the passing of our friend James Gandolfini. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family & friends.